Blade shaving accessory

ABSTRACT

A shaving accessory for use with a can of shaving cream to permit the user to evenly spread the cream dispensed from the can to selected areas of the human body. The accessory comprises an applicator for spreading cream and a positioner for holding the applicator and connecting it to the valve of the can in order that cream may be transmitted through the positioner to the applicator by depressing the valve.

The present invention relates generally to an accessory for the bladeshaver and, more particularly, to a device for the uniform applicationof a soapy material, such as shaving cream, to the shaver's facial area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Since time immemorial man has scraped and shaped his appearance with asharp instrument, now commonly referred to as a razor. While water, atone time, was the only lubricant, soap became useful, and thereafter,manufacturer's introduced what they referred to as shaving cream, firstwith a bowl and brush, and later in an aerosol can.

Even with the advent of the aerosol can, application of shaving creamhas become less than uniform, with the applicator dealing with clumpsand voids as the propellant which expels the soapy material tending tospit out the material in globs.

As a result of this characteristic, the applicator finds it necessary tospread the soap around in order to get a more uniform shave and avoid,as much as possible, scraping and chafing.

2. Overview of the Prior Art

Perhaps the person with the most vision was a Canadian by the name ofVallis who, in 1971, caused U.S. Pat. No. 3,565,541 to issue for aTreating Fluid Container with Applicator Unit. The Vallis device wasseen as an improvement for cleaning upholstery and shining shoes, and,for that reason, the brush used is of the same material as the clampwhich holds the applicator to the can. The clamp itself is sturdy andable to resist, to a significant extent, the pressure that it will besubjected to as it moves to and fro as it scrubs the surface of theupholstery or surface of a shoe.

A similar scrubbing device is depicted in Torkelson design Pat. No. Des374,990 for a golf club. Once again, the scrubber, a brush, is clampedto the side of a liquid dispenser. It is of interest that the Vallispatent was not cited by the Examiner during the prosecution of theTorkelson application.

Finally, Green et al. issued a design Pat. No. Des 376,697 for acombination container and applicator which was, obviously, for a viscusfluid, as evidenced by the slot in the applicator. The applicatorappears to be integral with the container pump stem. No purpose isdenoted, although the word WAX is visible, and neither Vallis norTorkelson were cited, and in the Green et al. and Torkelsonapplications, the Examiners were the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has a specific function in the realm ofdispensers, and that is to apply a foaming material to the face of theblade shaver in a soft and comfortable manner to facilitate the shavingexperience.

It is an objective of the present invention, intertwined with theforegoing, to permit application of a foaming shaving cream to aspecific area of one's face so that moustaches, goatees and like facialhair which is not to be removed, is readily preserved, while theremaining areas of the face may be shaved.

The foregoing, as well as other advantages and objectives of theinvention, will become apparent to those skilled in the art, from areading of the following Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment,in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view, in perspective, of a container of shaving cream withan applicator, in the nature of a soft brush facing upwardly and awayfrom the container, attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, with the applicator beingattached in an alternative manner, and facing generally toward thereader;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, in which an alternativeapplicator is depicted;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, with the applicator of FIG.3, attached; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the top of the can showing thevalve and the accessory attached thereto, partially sectioned to showdetails of the interrelationship between the two.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, a shavingaccessory is provided for use in conjunction with an aerosol can ofshaving cream to apply the contents of the can to selected areas of thehuman body.

In accomplishing this objective, a shaving accessory constructed inaccordance with the present invention is shown at 10 and comprises anapplicator of soft material, such as may be seen in FIG. 1, in thenature of an elongated brush element 12 secured at one end of apositioner device 14, at an end thereof, so named because it positionsthe brush to receive the contents of a vessel containing shaving creamthrough the brush element.

The brush 14, as illustrated, comprises a series of uniformly, elongatedbristles arranged in a random array in close proximity to one another.Each bristle is affixed at one end in a backing plate 16, which istransverse to the longitudinal axis of the bristles and which iseconomically formed as part of the positioner 14.

The positioner 14 is fashioned to be connected at one end thereof to thevalve of a conventional can C of foamable shaving cream F (FIG. 2).Since all cans are not absolutely uniform, particularly in the area ofthe discharge valve 21, some variation in the size of such valves willnecessarily require some modification of the positioner, but suchmodifications are within the contemplation of the invention, and shallnot be deemed as a separate invention.

Returning to the FIG. 1 embodiment, the positioner 14 includes anattachment element 23, which, in the FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiment, takes theform of a tubular positioning ring. The ring is dimensioned to fitsnugly about the discharge valve 21. By virtue of the cylindricalstructure, the positioner is easily rotated to align an aperture 25,FIG. 5, formed, or otherwise provided, in the cylindrical ring, with thedischarge orifice 27 in order that the shaving cream discharged throughthe discharge orifice will pass through a conduit in the positioner,through the orifice and fill the brush 12. Once the foam permeates thebristles 14 of the brush 12, the user will have a simple task to applyshaving cream F to specific areas of his face, or other areas of thebody to be shaved, in preparation for shaving.

The positioner 14 of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 represents apositioner that fits over, or about, the relatively large dischargevalve available on the market on various brands of shaving cream. Asecond valve is depicted in FIG. 5, and it is substantially different insize and positioner 114 is illustrated as the invention's solution tothe discharge valve alternative, which is also prominently available ona variety of shaving cream brands.

The positioner 114 includes a brush 112 having a backing plate 116 whichsupports the brush 112. A cap 123 is formed with, or otherwise securedto, and is a part of, the positioner 114. The cap 123 is so dimensionedas to fit snugly over the discharge valve 121 where it may be rotated soas to align an aperture 125 in the cap with the orifice in the backingplate 116, whereby the shaving cream discharged from the aperture 125 inthe discharge valve fills the brush in preparation for application ofshaving cream to specific areas of one's face.

There are some, particularly on the distaff side, who prefer a softerapplicator for use with legs and underarms. To this end, and referringto FIGS. 3 and 4, a soft, yet porous, applicator is illustrated at 212.The applicator may be a sponge or similar material, including a porouscloth like pad. The applicator of FIG. 3 functions in essentially thesame way as the brush of FIG. 1, while providing a perhaps less abrasivesurface to spread shaving cream in a selected location in preparationfor shaving.

The applicator 212 and the attendant positioner 214 of FIG. 3 are bothsmall in size and light weight, thereby providing the accessory 110 withthe capacity to create a connection between the positioner and the valveof the can C by means of a tube 218 running between the valve 221 andthe backing plate 216. It will be appreciated that shaving creamdischarged through the valve 221 is fed directly through the backingplate 216 to the applicator where it permeates the applicator andpresents the cream to the user ready for application.

It will be understood that there may be some variation in the structureof the accessory of the present invention which will occur to thoseskilled in the art. However, such variations are within the purview ofthe present invention which is defined by the claims as set forthhereinafter.

1. An accessory for use in conjunction with an aerosol can of shavingcream, having a dispensing valve for dispensing the contents of said canto said accessory for selectively spreading shaving cream dispensedtherefrom to selected areas of the human body in preparation to shavethat area, comprising: an applicator; said applicator being of a softmaterial, said soft material capable of receiving shaving cream andholding the same therein pending application to selected parts of thehuman body; a positioner, said positioner engaged with said applicatorat one end thereof and mounted to said valve of the can at the other endthereof, and a conduit extending between said valve and said applicatorfor the passage of shaving cream there through.
 2. The accessory ofclaim 1, wherein said applicator is in the form of a soft bristledbrush.
 3. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said applicator is in theform of a sponge.
 4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said positionerhaving a ring, said ring circumscribing said valve to secure saidpositioner to said valve.
 5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein saidpositioner is formed with a cap, said cap being dimensioned to fit oversaid valve.
 6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said positioner isformed with an orifice, said orifice being alignable with an aperture insaid valve so that shaving cream discharged from said valve fills saidapplicator.
 7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said positionerconnects to said valve by means of a tube; shaving cream discharged fromsaid valve passes through said tube to said applicator.
 8. The accessoryof claim 4, wherein said applicator is in the form of a soft bristledbrush.
 9. The accessory of claim 4, wherein said applicator is in theform of a sponge.
 10. The accessory of claim 3, wherein said positionerconnects to said valve by means of a tube; shaving cream discharged fromsaid valve passes through said tube to said applicator.
 11. Theaccessory of claim 5, wherein said positioner having a ring, said ringcircumscribing said valve to secure said positioner to said valve. 12.The accessory of claim 5, wherein said applicator is in the form of asponge.